George Gibbs

The Vagrant Duke George Gibbs

Book Excerpt: ...at all. Make yourself at 'ome. There's cigarettes on the locker and a nip of the Scotch to keep the chill out. Here's a light. You've been worryin' me some, 'Ighness. Fact is I didn't know just how big a bug you were until to-day when I arsked some questions. You'll forgive me, 'Ighness?""Peter Nichols," corrected the Grand Duke."No," insisted the Captain, "we'll give you yer title while we can. You know we British have a bit of a taste for r'yalty when we know it's the real thing. I don't take much stock in most of my cargo aft. And beggin' yer 'Ighness's pardon I never took much stock in Russia since she lay down on the job and left the Allies in the lurch----""Captain Blashford," said the Grand Duke quietly. "You can't hurt my feelings.""But I do like you, 'Ighness, and I want to do all that I can to 'elp you when we get to anchor.""Thanks.""I take it that you don't want anybody ashore to know who ye are?""Exactly. Most of these refugees are going to England. I have reasons for not wishing to go with them."...